Back in Orlando on International Drive

While we're waiting for the new studio space to be ready, we're living like tourists in an assortment of hotels down here because the price is about half for the same quality accommodation in tow. As I pointed out previously, the real city of Orlando exists somewhat anonymously to the north of the spot where hundreds of millions of tourists have spent their vacations, oblivious to their actual location.
One of the most popular of those tourist areas is International Drive. This district is distinctly divided into northern and southern parts. The older northern section was the place originally picked by the city's leaders to keep the tourists away from downtown. Over the years it grew with minimal planning and the resultant area is a warren of ticket shops, buffet restaurants, gift shops and hotels of every size and shape.
This is home to Wet'n Wild and the Magic Midway amusement park. It has an urban and walkable feel that has made it very popular with British and Brazilian tourists. Most of the restaurants are more noted for their prices than their great dining experiences. Salt Island, a really nice place with a great bar, is a standout for great food and service. Not withstanding its shortcomings, the northern section is not a bad spot for good value and a place for families with teenagers to be able to let them wander on their own. On weekends, the local kids show up and the main street becomes somewhat of a cruising spot.
Determined not to let it share the unorganized, cluttered and somewhat tacky fate of its predecessor, the county planners determined on a decidedly different look for the newer southern section of the Drive. This where they situated the convention center, currently the country's second largest. There's also the Aquatic Center, Pointe Orlando and a bevy of good restaurants. The high point for luxury accomodations is the Peabody Hotel. The southern outpost of the venerable Memphis dowager with which she shares a name, the property is currently undergoing a massive expansion to include the tallest tower in the Orlando area.
In contrast to her northern sister, South International Drive is heavily landscaped and one can easily walk large stretches of it shaded by oak trees. After passing under the Beachline Expressway, the previous terminus of the Drive was Sea World and her adjunct parks. Over the last few years, the final miles of I-Drive have become home to several mega time share and condo complexes. Spending some time down here in the last few weeks, I can see why people still come to this area for vacation. It probably represents one of the best travel deals on the planet.